Short Introduction of OYM
Raymond Rizk - 12th January 2015
Letter to the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society
Annex 2
Present Status of the MJO
Organization
The highest authority of
the MJO lies in the annual Assembly that groups representatives of its various
geographical “centers”. The assembly elects the MJO Chief Executive, names
Secretary General for a 2-year period that can be renewed. The Secretary
General appoints members of the General Secretariat to direct and control all
MJO activities within its various geographical locations.
Geographical locations
Activities of the MJO
are coordinated geographically from the following “centers”:
- Beirut (Lebanon) that has 3 branches, one entrusted with spiritual
and cultural activities and two dealing with medico-social activities.
- Tripoli (Lebanon) that has 3 branches in Tripoli itself (two for
spiritual/cultural and one for medico/social activities) and 17 branches in the
Koura and surrounding regions (Minya, Samiriyye, Bichmizzine, Afsdik, Bterram,
Barsa, Bsarma, Kosba, Deddeh, Amioun, Fih, Enfe, Chekka, Kfarhazir, Majdlaya,
Afsik and Kfaraaka). Runs a 50 persons conference Center.
- Mount Lebanon that has 17 branches (Jdeideh, Bourj Hammoud, Sin el Fil,
Dora, Mansourieh, Broummana, Nabay, Bsalim, Jounieh, Balloune, Aley/Bhamdoun
and surrounding villages, Hadath, Btigrin, Kfarchima, Ain Dara, Wadi Chahrour
and Nabaa) four of which have medico-social facilities and there is an
employment center that covers all the region.
- Batroun in Lebanon that has 17 branches (Batroun, Jbeil, Kfarhata,
Kfarhilda, Kaftoun, Btaaboura, Douma, Wajh al Hajar, Hamat, Kobba, Al Rihaniya,
Al Barbara, Gharzouz, Chikhane, Kfour Arbeh, Bziza and Mouncef) one of which
has medico-social activities
- Akkar in Lebanon that has 13 branches (Halba, Minyara, Tleil,
Sharbila. TellAbbas, Rahbe, Al Hik, Al Humeira, Bazbina, Al Jdeide, Abdmoun,
Shidra and Karm Asfour) with one with medico-social activities covering the
region.
- South Lebanon with social and cultural activities in 5 locations (Saida,
Kfeir, Ain Al Hircheh, Ibl aa Saki and Deir Mimas).
- Damascus in Syria that have one branch in the city itself and 12 in the
surrounding cities/villages (Irbeen, Sahnaya, Jdeidet, Katana, Al Zabadani,
Daraya, Deir Attiyeh, Maarat Seidnaya, Saydnaya, Maarounet, Maaloula) out of
which at least 4 are out of reach because of the current events in Syria. MJO
Damascus has a special program for deaf and mutes persons.
- Aleppo in Syria with social and cultural activities. They have also built
a conference center for about 150 persons in Jdeideh at 120 kms from Aleppo
which is presently most likely heavily damaged as occupied by gunmen.
- Lattakiah in Syria with 5 branches in the city and 26 in the
surrounding cities/villages (Hallouz, Al Borj, Kinsaba, Al Kassab, Al
Ghassaniya, Al Jdeidet, Jisr Al Choughour, Banias, As Soda, Matn as Sahel, Al
Rowdat, Al Sherfet, Matn Badriyya, Saya, Borj Bloummana, Bachtar, Jdeidet
Tartous, Doueir Taha, Al Roueisset, Al Blimke, Sain, Maquiah, Bdaira, Al Baydat
and Al Finmar) out of which 8 are now out of reach because of the current
events in Syria. Furthermore, MJO Lattakiah runs three Summer Camps premises in
Kassab, Slenfe and Sain Al Gharbiyyat.
- Tartous in Syria with one branch in the city itself.
- Homs in Syria (in close cooperation with a local association)
with 7 branches in the city itself and 11 in the surrounding villages (Kattine,
Al Mouchrifat, Al Jabiriyya, Bado, Waridat, Kifram, Rabah, Al Mouranat, Al
Doueir and Feyrouzet). But work in the region is presently greatly affected by
the Syrian rebellion.
- Hama in Syria (in close cooperation with a local association)
with one branch in the city and 10 in the surrounding cities and villages
- Kuwait City in Kuwait with 1 branch.
- United Arab Emirates with 2 branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In Summary, the MJO is
active in 150 cities/villages (71 in Lebanon, 76 in Syria and 3 in the Gulf),
and count about 4000 members who care benevolently of its various activities.
Major Activities
- Spiritual:
· Catechetical Sunday Schools for
children from 4 to 12 years old, meeting weekly with summer camps and various
recreational activities
· Group weekly meetings for secondary schools
students with prayers and discussion of spiritual and cultural topics and
summer camps and yearly conventions grouping members from all MJO branches
· Group weekly meetings for university students
with prayers and discussion of spiritual and cultural topics and yearly
conventions grouping members from all MJO branches and involvement in
leadership of Sunday Schools and playing active role in social activities
· Group weekly meetings for workers and families
with prayers and discussion of spiritual and cultural topics and yearly
conventions grouping members from all MJO branches and involvement in social
activities
- Cultural/International Relations:
· Organizing Regular lectures opened to general
public dealing with various social and cultural topics
· Organizing Cines-Clubs
· Running a Publishing House (so far over 400
books have been printed/about 30 new books/year)
· Inter-Religions dialogue with other Christians
and Moslems
· Active within Syndesmos the world Fellowship of
Orthodox Youth Movements, of which the MJO is one of the founder
· Participates to ecumenical conference and
meetings on the local/regional and world levels
· Running a Research Center dealing with various
issues
· Publishing a monthly magazine called An Nour
Medical:
· Running 5 Centers (Medico-Social Centers) in
Lebanon (Beirut, Tripoli and Mount Lebanon) open to help needy people
irrespective of nationality and religion
· Involvement of MJO members in the activities of
these Centers
· Free Medical services by competent doctors in
the centers for various disciplines including cardiology, pediatrics,
endocrinology, urology, dermatology, ORL, pediatric, gynecologist,
ophthalmology, gastric, orthopedic, psychiatric, physiotherapy, general
medicine and dietetics.
· Special arrangements with Hospitals for surgery
and difficult cases
· Supply all kinds of medicines, specially for
chronic diseases
· Laboratory Exams
· First Aid Services
Social:
Health Care
· Organizing regular seminars and meetings for
house wives on various educational, cultural, spiritual and social issues
· Encouraging women to work manually and help them
to sell what they produce
· Regular follow-up, counseling by experienced
social workers of all who come (and their families) to the Centers for help and
guidance
· Special care (in Syria) for the deaf and mutes
Urgent Special Needs
· Attending to urgent special needs (presently
Syrian displaced persons in Syria and in Lebanon)
Employment Office
Scholarship Programs
· Helping families to pay their children schooling
fees (over 400 students a year)
Third Age Programs
· Providing food and support to elderly people
several times a week (over 350 elderly people in Lebanon)
Recreational activities
· Summer Camps (for over 3000 participants in
Lebanon and Syria)
· Special events during major religious festivals
Financing:
Source of Funds
· Monthly and special ad-hoc contributions of the
MJO members
· Returns from Special Events (musical concerts,
dinners, movies, etc)
· Special donations in cash or by means of
supplies (food to needy people or otherwise)
· Occasional help from the Orthodox Church, few
Government institutions and other local and international organizations.
Disbursements on Major Social Activities in 2014
Medico-Social Centers: $330,000/year
Scholarship Programs: $170,000/year
Third Age Programs:$ 50,000/year
Summer Camps and Special Events:$110,000/year
Help to Syrian displaced persons/refugees: $120,000/year